The planned SpaceX rocket launch has failed once again today, with the SpaceX Falcon 9 being scrubbed due to technical problems. It is intended to carry six commercial satellites into orbit.
In a related report by The Inquisitr , the recent SpaceX Dragon re-entry splashdown was caught on video after leaving the International Space Station. Unfortunately, the U.S. is now in danger of being forced out of the ISS because Russia is making threats in response to the Ukraine crisis. In fact, one Russian leader even jokingly suggested the U.S. should send its astronauts to the ISS with the help of a trampoline . This is no idle threat since NASA and the U.S. military rely on Russian Soyuz rocket flights and also Russian made R-180 engines in order to keep us in the space race at all. Fortunately, private space companies like SpaceX are taking up the slack and their designs do not rely on Russian technology. The SpaceX Dragon V2 spacecraft is being designed to shuttle up to seven astronauts up to the ISS and it’s hoped it can be put into use by 2017.
The bad news is that a SpaceX rocket launch is having problems even after three days. The Falcon 9 rocket that was set to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Sunday but officials scrubbed the launch during pre-flight checks:
“Today’s ORBCOMM launch attempt has been scrubbed to address a potential concern identified during pre-flight checks. The vehicle and payload are in good condition, and engineering teams will take the extra time to ensure the highest possible level of mission assurance prior to flight.”
The first launch window during Friday evening was also scrubbed due to technical problems but the second attempt on Saturday was cancelled over bad weather. The weather in Brevard County was just as bad this afternoon but apparently that had nothing to do with the SpaceX rocket launch cancellation. This probably means that a Monday launch may not happen since thunderstorms are predicted to hit the area in the afternoon, although for Tuesday the weather predictions are calling for partly sunny weather.
Space fans who may have hoped to watch videos of the SpaceX rocket launch will also be disappointed. SpaceX is saying the launch will not be broadcast to the media or the public because launches have become “too routine” and they no longer believe providing a full webcast is necessary.
